BROOKFIELD -- The second time that town leaders offered the historic but now-neglected cottage next to the library for sale at auction, they were pleased get a bid for $79,000, some $40,000 above the minimum.

Now a month later, buyer Asim Ceylan has reneged on the deal, forfeiting a $2,500 deposit, First Selectman Bill Tinsley said Monday.

Reached at home Monday, Ceylan had no comment.

The 1-acre property is slated to be offered to the lowest of three bidders, area resident David Cole, offered $39,000. Tinsley said he understands Cole intends to accept the offer.

Efforts to reach Cole on Monday were not successful.

After Ceylan backed away from the deal, Tinsley said the second bidder, who offered just $1,000 less, opted against buying the property when it became clear it is suitable for only one, rather than two single-family home lots.

The area for a house is at the top of the wooded property, across from a large barn that will require substantial renovation because it has sustained weather damage, including to the roof.

The two-bedroom cottage on the lower end of the property was a 19th century milk house for a boys school and for a few years was used as a rental home.

The former town administration and voters at two special town meetings decided to move forward with a sale since no town funds were available to make repairs and no intended use for the property.

If it were up to him, Tinsley said, he would rethink the whole issue and try to figure out how to arrange an "old-fashioned barn-raising" to restore the cottage and barn so it remained in town control and was no longer an eyesore.

The Brookfield Library board of trustees paid $170,000 for the property in 2001. A demolition permit was denied, and expansion stalled. The property was rented until 2008.

"I have a sense of frustration that they will be taking such a loss. We don't need to be losing money," Tinsley said.

Legally there is no recourse if the third bidder officially accepts the offer and makes the down payment, he said. "I hope he turns it into something nice."